The Balance

by C. L. Nelson

  I offered her a small smile, but it doesn’t reach my eyes. “Thank you both for your time. I am sorry this didn’t work out like I wanted.” I shook both of their hands before leaving.

  ***

  I didn’t want to go back to the mansion yet, so I glimmered to a nearby lake. The water in the Waiting is not blue or green like in the Provisional, but a light purple color. Surrounding the lake are vibrant pink wildflowers. It is really beautiful.

  You might wonder how I knew where to find a lake in a realm I am not familiar with. Well, it seems that I am connected to nature like the nymphs. It is part of my ethereal side. I recently discovered that I am drawn to the outdoors and that it makes me feel refreshed.

  I needed to feel refreshed after the disappointing conversation I had with Ameny and Ingrid. I can’t just let those souls continue to be tortured when they don’t deserve to be there.

  Someone has to do something about Cecilia. She is Fate, an important part of the Balance, and she isn’t doing her job. Without the consequences from Fate, the Balance is going to fall apart. Surely, the Creators will step in before that happens. Isn’t their job to select the Ladies of the Waiting and make sure they are doing their jobs?

  “You ruined my life,” a disembodied voice with a fake British accent said.

  I know that voice. I guess what they say is true, speak of the devil and she will appear. “Cecilia, I was just thinking about you.”

  “I hate you, bitch! You stole my man and destroyed my reputation!”

  Her voice sounded closer, but I didn’t see her as I scanned my surroundings. “Listen Cecilia, I didn’t do anything to you. You are the one that helped Alaric intercept souls that were supposed to be reincarnated, so he could try to teach me a lesson. He was a sick cruel male. He used you and that sucks, but that is not my fault,” I explained to the air. “Show yourself, Cecilia. I am tired of talking to a disembodied voice. Or are you scared of me?”

  I was suddenly grabbed from behind. One of my arms was wrenched painfully behind my back while a large knife was held to my neck.

  “Don’t move or I will cut your head off, and we will see if an abomination can survive that,” another familiar female voice said.

  I didn’t move, but not because I was frightened by her threat. I am pretty sure I’d just grow a new body or head or whatever. I didn’t move because I wanted to lure Cecilia out.

  Cecilia appeared in front of me. “I doubt you would survive it. I think all the rumors about the abominations are exaggerated,” Fate said as she flipped her strawberry blonde hair over her shoulder. “I believe you’ve met my lover, Vita. She is the only one still loyal to me after your treachery destroyed my life.”

  I glared at her while I felt my skin heat up. “That’s wonderful, but if you want to keep her, I suggest you tell her to let me go immediately.”

  The bitch rolled her eyes at me. “Alaric was able to defeat you all those years ago, I think we will take our chances.”

  I could feel my eyes turn black as my anger grew, my ethereal side fading to the background. “This is your final warning, Cecilia. Things don’t have to go down this way.”

  She was grinning at me, but her eyes were full of anger. “This only ends one way between us and that is with one of us dead. Spoiler alert: I win.”

  Cecilia nodded at Vita who then pressed the knife into my neck, cutting me.

  My infernal fire roared out of my body in an intensity that I had yet to experience. Blue flames covered my entire body, instantly igniting the female reaper that held me.

  Vita screamed as she burned. She tried to stop, drop, and roll to put out the flames, but that didn’t help. She rolled right into the purple lake, but still, she burned.

  Cecilia screamed too like she felt the fire right along with her lover. She was crying as she watched her only remaining companion burn to death.

  “I can stop this, and she will heal if you promise to come with me and accept the consequences of your actions,” I said. “Keep in mind that deals with infernals and ethereals are as binding as a deal bound in blood.”

  “Fine! I will do whatever you want just please don’t kill her.” She grabbed my arm, her eyes pleading with me to save her lover.

  I pulled back my fire and Vita stopped burning, but the damage had been done. “She will survive, but I don’t think she will heal all of that damage. She will end up with scars like Alaric,” I said without an ounce of sympathy in my voice.

  “No. Please, isn’t there anything you can do? Can you heal her?” she pleaded as Vita dragged herself out of the water.

  I pulled out my phone and started to type out a text message. “Come with me right now and after our business is finished, I will come back here and see what I can do for her,” I said as I sent the text.

  She nodded, tears streaming down her face. She looked completely defeated.

  I gripped her shoulder and glimmered us to the stasis room in the Ladies of the Waiting’s palace.

  Ingrid is there alone, waiting for us. I sent her a text, telling her I was on my way with Cecilia.

  “Where is Ameny?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “She doesn’t need to be here for this.”

  My eyebrows drew together in confusion. “But we need the three of you to recycle the souls.”

  A large battle axe materialized in Karma’s hands and she immediately swung it in one smooth motion.

  Cecilia’s head rolled across the pristine white floors, leaving a trail of blood behind it. Her body crumpled to the floor, more blood pooling around it.

  I stood there in complete shock with my mouth open.

  Karma bent down and pulled out Cecilia’s soul, which took on a ghost-like form. Her soul didn’t fully materialize into a corporeal state.

  “Cecilia, on behalf of the creators, you are hereby removed from your position as Fate,” Karma said, smiling like she was enjoying herself. “You will be placed back into the Provisional to be reincarnated until you have learned your lessons and earn your ultimate reward or until you are deemed beyond repair.”

  “You can’t do that! Please, I can’t go back into the Provisional and go back to being a nobody,” she begged.

  A reaper walked into the room. “Come with me. I will take good care of you,” he said in a sweet pleasant tone. “We are going to wipe your memories and place you in a nice new incarnation.”

  “Whatever! I never liked being Fate anyway, too much work.” The reaper guided Cecilia out of the room. On her way out, Cecilia said, “Charlie, please go back for Vita.”

  I nodded at her as she was pulled out of the room. I intend on keeping my word. I will heal Vita as soon as I leave here.

  “Charlie, before you leave, there is someone who wants to have a word with you,” Karma said.

  I felt a warm, comforting feeling spread throughout my body like I was being hugged by someone who loved me.

  A soothing female voice drifted through my mind, “It’s nice to meet you, Charlie James, born Carina Maura, offspring of high ranking ethereal, Aniela, and Nox, the Infernal King; the only immortal-born being that has experienced reincarnation, and future Queen of the Reapers.”

  I was a little thrown off by this voice’s greeting. “Uh, it’s nice to meet you too, whoever you are.”

  Ingrid sighed, shook her head, and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

  The voice laughed inside my mind. “I forget that you were young when your mother sent you away. You do not know us as you should. I am Terrene, one of the Creators.”

  “Wow! No shit?” I said.

  I looked at Ingrid whose eyes were wide. She was waving her arms at me and shaking her head.

  Crap, I probably shouldn’t speak to a Creator that way. “Forgive me. It is an honor to be in your presence, Terrene.”

  Terrene laughed. “It is quite alright, Charlie. We love you just as you are. It is because of who you are that we have decided that we would like you to ascend to the position of Fate.”

/>   My mouth falls open again. Today is just full of surprises. “Wow. I’m honored, but are you sure I am the right person for the job?”

  Ingrid hits her forehead with the palm of her hand.

  I laugh. I can’t help it.

  The voice in my head laughs with me. “Yes, Charlie. We are sure you are the right being for the job. You are the perfect balance between good and evil, light and dark. You have experienced reincarnation, so you know what the souls are dealing with from personal experience. You care about the souls that were wronged by Alaric and Cecilia. There is no one more qualified to become the next Fate.”

  My heart swells from the praise and the confidence that the Creators have in me. “Thank you. I would love to be the next Fate. I won’t let you down.”

  “We know you won’t. We will be in contact when it is time for your ascension ceremony,” Terrene’s voice drifted off and the warm, comforting feeling left with her.

  I looked at Ingrid who is grinning at me. “Welcome to the family, sister,” she said, pulling me in for a hug.

  ***

  Two days later, Terrene’s voice drifted into my head and told me it was time for my ascension ceremony.

  Kian had been thrilled with the news. He was so proud of me. He has been all over me every chance he got. We have had sex in his office, in a few closets, in several bathrooms, basically wherever we could find some privacy.

  The ascension ceremony was private, only Ingrid, Ameny, and Terrene were there. I got to meet Terrene in person. I was told that only the Ladies of the Waiting, a couple high ranking ethereals, and the infernal king have ever seen a Creator in person.

  Unfortunately, I was sworn to secrecy, so I can’t reveal what she looked like. It is just in case the Creators want to walk amongst their creations, which apparently, they do quite frequently. Be kind to each other, you never know if the person you are talking to has the power to change your life.

  I was given a simple white dress to wear, no shoes. The ceremony took place in the Creator’s realm. I am not sure if the whole realm looks like the place we were taken to. It was just a vast white emptiness as far as the eyes could see. There were no floors, no walls, no ceiling, no sky, no ground. There was only white. It was a little unnerving standing on nothing.

  “This is where creation began,” Terrene said, beginning the ceremony. “And this is what will remain if the Balance is not maintained. Existence will cease to exist.”

  Ameny and Ingrid are solemn, but their eyes sparkle with happiness.

  “Charlie, daughter of Aniela and Nox, darkling, future Queen of the Reapers, are you prepared to accept the duties of Fate?”

  “Yes.”

  “Will you maintain the Balance to the best of your ability?

  “I will.”

  “Will you put the Balance above all else, including your own kin?”

  I hesitated only briefly before answering, “I will.”

  Terrene turned to Ameny and Ingrid. “Destiny, Karma, do you accept Charlie as Fate, as your new sister?”

  They answered in unison, “We do.”

  “Excellent!” Terrene turned back to me. “Charlie, the Creators are elated to bestow all the powers of Fate upon you. Please kneel.”

  I kneeled without speaking. I was warned about the seriousness of the ceremony, so I know to keep the smart-ass comments to myself.

  When Terrene placed her hand on my head, I was hit with a blast of power. Every record of every possible outcome for every soul in existence flowed into my head. It was a lot of information and the pain was almost unbearable. It was like a new part of my brain was being birthed and the labor was intense.

  When the pain faded, Terrene spoke, “You now have all the power of Fate. The instructions to your new abilities are in your head, you need only seek them out.”

  “Thank you, Creators, for your faith in me. I won’t let you down,” I said as Ameny and Ingrid helped me to my feet.

  “We shall be watching,” Terrene said, her voice merging with other voices.

  With that eerie parting comment, we were sent back to the Waiting. The last thing we had to do was announce my ascension to the reapers. Kian had gathered the reapers in Soul City, outside of the mansion.

  Kian picked me up and twirled me in the air when we arrived at the mansion. He put me down and kissed me before he said, “I am so proud to be marrying you soon. I love you so freaking much.”

  I laughed. “I love you too. Now, let’s make the announcement so we can have some alone time.”

  “Seriously? You two have been going at it like rabbits. Aren’t you tired yet?” Jarrett said as he walked into the room.

  “You must have very low stamina, Jarrett. Good thing I never had sex with you. I would have been so disappointed.” I laughed.

  Deep rumbling laughter entered the room right before Dashiel walked in. “You definitely set yourself up for that one,” he said, messing up Jarrett’s hair as he walked by him.

  Jarrett scowled at us. “I have plenty of stamina. You can literally ask thousands of females.”

  “As if you can remember all of them for us to ask,” Emilia said as she joined us with Finlay in tow. Her hair is now hot pink.

  The two of them have been inseparable. I love that the two of them are happy together, but I miss hanging out with Fin. I guess I have been busy too.

  “Hey, you two. Fin, we need a date night as soon as things settle down. I miss you,” I said.

  “I agree. I miss you too, love. If you can pry Kian off you, we can hang out, just the two of us like old times,” he said as he pulled me away from Kian and wrapped me in a hug. His hand wandered down and grabbed my butt.

  Kian growled at him. “Mine!”

  Finlay laughed as he pulled away from me, holding his hands in the air. “We know, big guy. Take it easy.”

  Emilia laughed too. “You are too easy to rile up, dear brother.”

  I pulled Kian down to my mouth and kissed him until he forgot he was mad at Finlay.

  Rhett is the last one to arrive. “Sorry, I’m late. Is the smooching all I missed?”

  “Pretty much. We also learned that Jarrett has low stamina and that Kian doesn’t like it when other males touch Charlie’s butt,” Emilia said, smiling.

  “Noted,” Rhett said.

  Kian glared at Finlay. “I have grown to like you but if you touch my female’s butt or any other place inappropriately again. You will be growing back your hands,” he warned.

  Finlay laughed. “I hear you, but if you do that you might trigger our girl’s infamous temper. We wouldn’t want that.”

  I shrugged.

  Ingrid interrupted, “this is amusing and all, but it’s time to make the announcement.”

  We all exited the sitting room and walked out on to the balcony that overlooks the city. The siblings and Finlay stood off to the side while Ameny, Ingrid, Kian, and I walked to the balustrade.

  Kian, as the King of the Reapers, made the announcement. “Reapers, I am pleased to introduce you to our newest Lady of the Waiting, Fate!”

  He motioned toward me and I stepped forward with Ameny and Ingrid. We waved to the crowd as a united force.

  I waited until the cheers and applause died down. “Thank you! Along with your new king, the Ladies of the Waiting are committed to restoring and maintaining the Balance. Threats to the Balance will not be tolerated. We look to you all to do your part and obey the rules. You are all a vital part of this operation. We cannot maintain the Balance without you.”

  The city celebrated that night. Magical fireworks illuminated the sky with vibrant displays. Music played throughout the streets.

  Ameny and Ingrid excused themselves and went home to celebrate on their own, something about it not being proper to fraternize with their subordinates. I think they just wanted an excuse to be alone.

  The siblings, Finlay, Kian, and I all partied well into the early morning. We have all been through a lot in the past couple of weeks and have earned our
celebration.

  One by one, the siblings retired to their rooms, Finlay leaving hand-in-hand with Emilia. Kian and I celebrated some more when we were alone and then fell soundly asleep in a tangle of blankets.

  Chapter 31

  Charlie

  Three weeks later, things finally started to calm down as we settled into our new roles. Kian was turning out to be an excellent king. Apparently, there is a lot more involved in being king than just being an asshole. In fact, the job description clearly states that a king should not be an asshole. I guess Alaric missed that part.

  Kian has reallocated the soul energy, so all the reapers are getting fairly compensated for their work. No longer is the reaper king taking an excessive amount of energy to finance his wasteful lifestyle. He has also set apart time each day to hear suggestions, complaints, or to settle disputes between reapers.

  While Kian does his kingly duties, I am off doing my job as Fate. It is a fairly simple job. I keep an eye on the souls in the Provisional and occasionally drop hints about what could happen if they don’t actively participate in their lives.

  I get the blame when something bad happens to someone, but it’s your own fault if you aren’t working towards your destiny. Stop using the excuse that it was meant to happen because it was fate and take responsibility for your own damn lives.

  You might think that it would be a time-consuming task, but I only have to close my eyes and scan each soul using my new abilities as Fate. I also meet daily with Ameny and Ingrid to discuss any challenging cases to decide the next destination for some souls. It also requires a unanimous decision from the three of us to send a soul to the Pit or to the Everlasting.

  One of the first things we did as Ladies of the Waiting was to release the souls from the Pit that were wrongly put there and recycled them. They are now brand-new souls in their first incarnations.

  In our spare time, Kian and I have been planning our wedding. I have never been one of those girls that have been fantasizing about my wedding since I was a small child. However, Kian is a romantic and loves planning our wedding, so I let him take the lead. He brings me choices for various things, and I give my input.